Sierra Canyon School

SUCCESS STORY

Funding the future of arts education

76X

average return on contribution

12,000

people impacted

$14M

raised

4

organizational steps progressed

BACKGROUND

Big dreams

Sierra Canyon School (SCS), a pre-K–12 independent school in Los Angeles, had big dreams: to build a world-class arts center and elevate the school’s annual fundraising to better support faculty and academics. With a lean two-person development team and limited capital campaign experience, the school needed a partner to turn vision into reality.

PROCESS

Reaching high

PEF stepped in to help SCS reach for their goals with a comprehensive advancement strategy:

Launched a landmark campaign: PEF helped SCS shape their “Campaign for the Center for the Arts,” refining the case, mapping a phased strategy, training school leaders in major gift solicitation, and building donor relationships.

Strengthened the annual fund: While capital gifts grew, so did annual support. PEF refined messaging, improved donor segmentation, and enhanced stewardship, leading to broader participation and giving.

Built advancement infrastructure: Beyond short-term goals, PEF evolved SCS’s operations, introducing systems, processes, and best practices to lay the foundation for future fundraising success.

Educated leadership: From the head of school to advancement staff, SCS gained critical fluency in philanthropic strategy and fundraising execution.

What began as a bold first-time campaign quickly became a defining moment for Sierra Canyon School. In just over a year, the Campaign for the Center for the Arts raised

Sticking the landing

RESULTS

more than $14 million,

igniting unprecedented momentum across the school’s philanthropic efforts. The Annual Fund grew in both revenue and participation, reflecting a stronger, more engaged donor community.

Together, these efforts generated a

76x Return on Contribution™

That impact goes well beyond the numbers.

More than a campaign—a catalyst

RESULTS

With new systems, sharper strategy, and leadership trained in the art of major giving, Sierra Canyon now operates with the sophistication of a seasoned advancement program. What was once a lean team is evolving into a high-functioning office equipped for long-term fundraising success.

The Center for the Arts will stand as a creative and cultural hub for years to come. Equally enduring is the transformation behind the scenes. Sierra Canyon’s advancement function is no longer catching up to the school’s ambitions; it’s leading them.

The Center for the Arts will open as a permanent home for creativity and community at Sierra Canyon. More importantly, the school now has the infrastructure, confidence, and capability to sustain ambitious fundraising for years to come.